Hey guys, I just got the 352 back together with new rings and bearings and everything else that goes with it. Also replaced everything that bolts onto the outside of it with new as well. It started up great and sounded smooth, not to mention how sweet it looks with it's new coat of Ford Blue! I took it for a little spin later in the day and it ran well but hotter than I would like at just beyond the upper range of normal. I should mention that I am using the same sending unit as I had just replaced it previously. Anyway, I took it out last nite and it ran even hotter (almost pegged), and the oil pressure was reading up between 70 and 80, where it had been reading 50 when going down the road at 45 mph. I understand new rings rub harder, more friction etc.. But this much? This is a 1966 engine that still had it's original parts and I rebuit it with standard bearings. Using plastiguage, everything was in spec. This has really got me wondering where to turn first. I haven't messed with the timing yey since I set it when I dropped the dizzy in place and the truck ran so smooth but I have heard that this can affect it. I am really looking for ideas and would appreciate any help you guys can offer. Is it possible that I may have put the head gaskets on wrong and they are blocking flow? I went out and started it up just now and while it didn't get up to tempurarure before I shut it off the oil pressure steadily climbed up to the 70's. Thanks guys!

 

A fresh motor will have more oil pressure. Does it drop down after warming up?? This is normal. What you are seeing is not out of line.

As for hot? Head gasket backwards?? Could be?? How is the flow in the radiator while sitting there?? Have you opened it up and watched?? Did you install a new thermostat?? How is the radiator?? Very used or newer replacement??

Timing could account for more heat, but if it was that far advanced I think it would be hard to start when hot. Does it turn over easily after it is hot?? Or does it crank hard??

 

yeah check your radiator. My 66 radiator was so freakin dirty im suprised it cooled anything. Also put a thermoastat in and make sure you check it with a pan of boiling water to make sure its good. If you think about it this should be an easy fix can only a few things.

 

Well, I put the old thermostat back into the truck and adjusted the timing and it is running a whole lot cooler. I know new stuff is bad right out of the box sometime but that's not where you usually check first! The oil pressure is still up there though. Took it to town after I swapped the thermos and it ran 70-75 lbs. I put in in neutral and coasted down a little hill and it dropped down to 50 or so. This is the same sending unit that I had before the rebuilt. By the way, this truck has two oil sending units, one for the guage that is 3 inches long and 11/4 inches in diameter, and one for the light that is a smaller plug which I replaced. Should the pressure go down after I get a few more miles on it?

 

High oil pressure is never a problem unless it is blowing out plugs. Relax.

 

You'll never blow a plug with 70 lbs oil pressure.

My race motor(428) runs 110 lbs thru the traps. Never a drop anywhere.

Relax, in another 100,000 miles it will settle down to a miserly 50 lbs hot....

 

Or if you wait a little longer it will continue "settling down" until it reaches the 7 or 8 psi that my 352 likes! Sounds like you did a good job.
jor

 

yeah or 2 PSI like mine did before rebuild.

 

I know I had problems with no oil pressure and it turned out to be the pump. I had a new one installed and ran 20w50 and the pressure is up to 65 warm and it doesn't burn oil anymore.